Rail service plays a vital role in many bulk freight operations. For both liquid and dry bulk shippers, rail can be an efficient and cost-effective solution to moving high volumes over long distances. But when rail interruptions occur, their impact can
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When shippers think about transportation costs, diesel fuel is often reduced to a single line item: the fuel surcharge.
But behind that surcharge is a much bigger story — one that quietly influences the price of nearly everything we touch, eat, or
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In 2025, shippers turned to the Bulk Connection blog for practical education around bulk freight fundamentals and industry compliance. The most-read articles of the year focused on helping both experienced and newer shippers better understand equipment,
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Every January, many chemical and food-grade shippers kick off the year by issuing transportation RFQs (requests for quotation). The goal: lock in reliable carriers at competitive rates for the next 12 months.
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In the fast-evolving landscape of chemical logistics, artificial intelligence (AI) promises remarkable advances, particularly in data management, forecasting, and route optimization. However, despite AI's growing capabilities, the human element remains
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Rail service disruptions in North America are typically caused by weather-related events like hurricanes, flooding, and snowstorms that can wreak havoc on rail lines. With such events happening regularly across North America, it’s not a matter of ‘if’
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As we close out the second quarter of 2024, the bulk freight transportation industry has seen a steady continuation of trends established in the first quarter. Both liquid and dry bulk trucking volumes have remained consistent, providing a stable
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The first quarter of 2024 has been marked by steady freight activity across North America, and bulk trucking capacity has remained stable for both liquid and dry bulk freight.
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We’re reaching the end of Q4 2023 and heading into an exciting new 2024. It hasn’t been a terribly exciting time in the world of bulk trucking for much of 2023 – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Given all the unwanted excitement in recent years, a
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In a recent article, FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller, gives a powerful summary of the current popularity of freight brokers in the US supply chain, along with a concise history of how freight brokers have arrived at this point. It’s a fascinating article
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